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Variable glyceryl dinitrate formation as a function of glutathione S-transferase.

Nitroglycerin (GTN) has been used as the drug of choice in the treatment of angina pectoris. It has been shown that some glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) catalyze the metabolic conversion from GTN to glyceryl dinitrates (GDNs). In this study, we examined the substrate specificity of GSTs for GTN. Alpha and mu GSTs were isolated from porcine liver and intestinal mucosa by means of CM-cellulose and glutathione-affinity column chromatography. Mu GSTs degraded GTN time-dependently and formed 1,3-GDN in preference to 1,2-GDN as a ratio (1,2-GDN/ 1,3-GDN) of 0.61, whereas alpha GSTs formed twice as much 1,2-GDN as 1,3-GDN. These results showed that two GST families participate in the metabolic conversion of GTN at different hydrolyzing portions of the nitrogroups.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The role of human glutathione transferases and epoxide hydrolases in the metabolism of xenobiotics.

Human glutathione transferases (GSTs) are a multigene family of enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of a wide range of electrophilic compounds of both exogenous and endogenous origin. GSTs are generally recognized as detoxifying enzymes by catalyzing the conjugation of these compounds with glutathione, but they may also be involved in activation of some carcinogens. The memmalian GSTs can be differentiated into four classes of cytosolic enzymes and two membrane bound enzymes. Human epoxide hydrolases (EHs) catalyze the addition of water to epoxides to form the corresponding dihydrodiol. The enzymatic hydration is essentially irreversible and produces mainly metabolites of lower reactivity that can be conjugated and excreted. The reaction of EHs is therefore generally regarded as detoxifying. The mammalian EHs can be distinguished by their physical and enzymatic properties. Microsomal EH (mEH) exhibits a broad substrate specificity, while the soluble EH (sEH) is an enzyme with a "complementary" substrate specificity to mEH. Cholesterol EH and leukotriene A4 hydrolase are two EHs with very limited substrate specificity. The activities of either GSTs or EHs expressed in vivo exhibit a relatively large interindividual variation, which might be explained by induction, inhibition, or genetic factors. These variations in levels or activities of individual isoenzymes are of importance with respect to an individual's susceptibility to genotoxic effects. This article gives a general overview of GSTs and EHs, discussing the modulation of activities, determination of these enzymes ex vivo, and the polymorphic expression of some isoenzymes.

Epoxide Hydrolases↗

Advance in antitumor agents targeting glutathione-S-transferase.

Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18), a family of phase II detoxification enzymes, catalyze the conjugation of glutathione with broad substrates including chemotherapeutic agents, and are involved in cell protection against apoptotic signals by inhibiting the stress-signaling cascade mediated by ASK1 (Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase)-JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). As GSTs are overexpressed in some malignant tumors, GSTs is a promising therapeutic target. This article reviews the progress in the development of GSTs inhibitors and GSTs activated prodrugs.

Animals↗

Quantitative analysis of interindividual variation of glutathione S-transferase expression in human pancreas and the ambiguity of correlating genotype with phenotype.

Analysis of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) of the alpha, mu, and pi classes by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry in 43 samples of normal human pancreas demonstrated a wide variation in expression of subunits P1, A1, A2, A4, M1, M2, and M3 and the presence of a novel form designated GST "A5." GSTA2 consisted of three forms that were differentially expressed between individuals in a manner consistent with allelic polymorphism at the hGSTA2 locus. Expression, in terms of microg GST subunit/mg cytosolic protein, varied by 6-15-fold for subunits P1, A2, and M3 and 17-30-fold in the case of GSTs A1 and M2. Less consistently expressed were GSTs M1a, M1b, A4, and A5. Among these, GSTM1 expression (excluding M1-null samples) varied 12-fold between samples, whereas GST A4 and A5 expression varied approximately 50-100-fold between samples, well beyond the range of other subunits, suggesting that their expression is highly inducible. Linear correlations (P < 0.001-0.003) existed between levels of the most consistently expressed GST, GSTP1, and total GSTs, GSTA2 and M3, and in GSTM1-positive samples, between GSTM1, M3, and P1. The correlation between GST subunits P1 and M3 was bimodal according to M1 genotype, reflecting the presence of the regulatory element in hGSTM3*B that is linked with the hGSTM1*A genotype. It is concluded that although a degree of regulation of expression of GSTs occurs in human pancreas, the variability of phenotype is high and might obscure the effects of genetic polymorphisms on individual cancer susceptibility. Interindividual variation of GST expression is, therefore, a factor that should be taken account of in epidemiological studies.

Adolescent↗

Glutathione S-transferase enzyme expression in hematopoietic cell lines implies a differential protective role for T1 and A1 isoenzymes in erythroid and for M1 in lymphoid lineages.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are phase II metabolizing enzymes which catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to electrophilic substrates and possess selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase activity. The GST enzyme family includes the cytosolic isoforms GST-alpha, mu (GSTM), pi (GSTP), theta (GSTT) and sigma (GSTS). GSTT1, P1 and M1 are polymorphic and altered polymorphic frequency of genes encoding these proteins has been suggested as a potential risk factor for the development of hematopoietic malignancies. Overexpression of GSTs has also been implicated in chemotherapeutic drug resistance. This study was undertaken to elucidate the potential functional relevance of these genetic polymorphisms in hematopoiesis. DESIGN AND METHODS: GST genotype of 14 hematopoietic cell lines was determined by polymerase- chain-reaction (PCR). Gene expression of GSTs in a cell line was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on TaqMan 7700 and by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Cytosolic GST protein expression was detected by Western blot. GST conjugation activity was assayed using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as substrate. RESULTS: GSTP1 expression was higher than other GSTs in 13/14 cell lines and paralleled CDNB conjugation activity. GSTP1 and GSTM1 predominated in lymphoid lines whilst T1 expression was relatively greatest in erythroid lines but was absent in 7/12 non-null lines. GSTT2 was expressed in only 3/4 lines. The 3 cell lines which expressed GSTA1 were all erythroid. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Glutathione S-transerases showed differential lineage expression in hematopoietic cell lines. This implies a greater cytoprotective role for GSTT1 and GSTA1 in erythroid cells and GSTM1 in lymphoid cells. We postulate that inherited gene deletion of GSTT1 and M1 may produce increased genotoxic susceptibility for erythroid and lymphoid cell respectively, following exposure to xenobiotics that are substrates for these enzymes.

Cell Lineage↗

Isolation, characterization, and expression in Escherichia coli of two murine Mu class glutathione S-transferase cDNAs homologous to the rat subunits 3 (Yb1) and 4 (Yb2).

The cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GSTs, EC 2.5.1.18) are a superfamily of dimeric isoenzymes which catalyze the conjugation of electrophilic substrates with glutathione. We have isolated from a murine cell line (L929) two mu class GST cDNAs, pmGT10 (1.4 kilobases (kb] and pmGT2 (1.1 kb). Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed 93% homology between pmGT10 and the rat Yb1 (subunit 3) gene and 95% homology between pmGT2 and the rat Yb2 (subunit 4) gene. Furthermore, the 3'-untranslated regions of pmGT10 display a marked degree of homology to the 3' region of the rat Yb1 gene, while this region of pmGT2 displays marked homology to the corresponding region of the rat Yb2 gene. Using probes specific for each gene, northern blot analysis demonstrated that pmGT10 and pmGT2 hybridized to a 1.3-1.4-kb mRNA species present in L929 cells. These two murine cDNAs were subcloned into bacterial expression vectors, and enzymatically active GSTs encoded by pmGT10 (mGTmu1) or pmGT2 (mGTmu2) were purified from transformed Escherichia coli lysates. Western blot analysis of the individual GSTs produced in E. coli indicated that both genes encode GSTs which reacted with antibodies directed against mu class GST, but not with antibodies directed against alpha or pi class GSTs. The isoelectric points of these purified homodimers are 8.7 and 7.1, respectively, which are remarkably similar to those of the GST homodimers of the homologous rat subunits, 3-3 (or Yb1) and 4-4 (or Yb2), which are 8.4 and 6.9, respectively. Furthermore, the two murine subunits can form a heterodimer having a pI = 8.1 after in vitro dissociation with guanidine HCl, followed by dilution and dialysis to allow reassociation. Both homodimers of mGTmu1 and mGTmu2 and an apparent heterodimer are formed in L929 cells, as demonstrated by the isoelectric focusing profile of GST purified from this cell line. Hybridization of gene-specific probes with RNA from normal mouse tissues revealed that mGTmu1 transcripts were highly expressed in murine kidney, heart, lung, liver, and brain. Lower levels of mGTmu2 transcripts were also detected in kidney, heart, and lung. Expression of mGTmu2 RNA was not detected in murine liver or brain, which is in contrast to the regulation of the homologous rat subunit 4 (Yb2), which is expressed in liver and brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gastro-intestinal stromal tumors: an ultrastructural reinterpretation of the clear cell component.

The histology, immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure of six gastro-intestinal stromal tumors of the stomach (GSTs) showing a focal to diffuse clear cell component are reported. At light microscopy, all GSTs had typical histopathological features with one case additionally displaying stromal myxoid changes and scattered multinucleated giant cells. Immunohistochemically, 6 of 6 GSTs stained positive for vimentin, 2 of 6 for smooth muscle specific actin and 1 of 6 for desmin. At electron microscopy, GSTs showed microfilaments with focal densities as well as other smooth muscle features, such as subplasmalemmal linear densities and foci of external lamina. Ultrastructural appearances of tumor cells with clear cell features showed these not to be an artifact of fixation, but the expression of an unusual cytophagocytic activity. Inclusions of auto- and heterophagocytic nature were found responsible for the origin of the large, mostly lipidic vacuoles which displaced cell nuclei peripherally in a signet-ring fashion. It is concluded that such previously unrecognized features are ultrastructural aspects of GSTs with smooth muscle differentiation.

Adult↗

Molecular cloning and site-directed mutagenesis of glutathione S-transferase from Escherichia coli. The conserved tyrosyl residue near the N terminus is not essential for catalysis.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was purified from Escherichia coli K-12, and its N-terminal sequence was determined to be MKLFYKPGAXSLAS. The gene encoding this sequence was cloned and mapped at 1731-1732 kilobases on the E. coli gene map. It encoded a polypeptide of 201 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 22,860. The overexpressed product of the gene was confirmed to have GST activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and ethacrynic acid and GSH-dependent peroxidase activity toward cumene hydroperoxide. The relative molecular mass of the gene product was determined to be 40,000 by gel chromatography and 25,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating a homodimeric structure. The deduced amino acid sequence was 54% identical with that of Proteus mirabilis GST. Although the homologies between the GSTs from E. coli and mammals were low, many of the residues assigned to be important for the enzymatic function or structure in mammalian cytosolic GSTs were found to be conserved in E. coli GST. Therefore, E. coli GST is considered to have diverged from the same ancestor with other cytosolic GSTs. A specific tyrosyl residue in the vicinity of the N terminus is conserved in all of the known cytosolic GSTs and has been shown to function as a catalytic residue in alpha, mu, and pi class GSTs from mammals. Although Tyr5 in E. coli GST appeared to be the counterpart of the catalytic residue, its replacement with phenylalanine did not significantly affect the enzymatic activity. Therefore, this apparently conserved tyrosyl residue is not essential for catalytic activity in E. coli GST.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of human and rat glutathione S-transferases on the covalent DNA binding of the N-acetoxy derivatives of heterocyclic amine carcinogens in vitro: a possible mechanism of organ specificity in their carcinogenesis.

The effects of glutathione (GSH) and of purified human and rat GSH S-transferases (GSTs) on the covalent DNA binding of 3 putative ultimate food-borne carcinogens, the N-acetoxy derivatives of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine (PhIP), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ), and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoxaline (MeIQx), were studied in vitro. GSH (5 mM) alone slightly inhibited (10%) the DNA binding of N-acetoxy-PhIP (100 microM) at pH 7.5, but the binding could be strongly inhibited in the presence of both GSH and GSTs. Among human GSTs, the isozyme A1-1 (alpha-class) was most effective (90% inhibition) followed by A1-2 (40% inhibition); the effect of adding A2-2 was negligible, suggesting that the activity exists in subunit A1. In addition, human GST P1-1 (pi-class) also had some inhibitory effect (30%). Among the rat GSTs tested, GST 1-2 and GST 12-12 (theta-class), which are the equivalent of human A1-2 and T2-2, respectively, were able to inhibit DNA binding of N-acetoxy-PhIP (75 and 40%, respectively). This activity toward N-acetoxy-PhIP was dependent on enzyme concentration and was subject to inactivation by triethyltin bromide, a known GST inhibitor. In contrast, the binding of N-acetoxy-IQ or N-acetoxy-MeIQx to DNA was unaffected by addition of the human or rat GSTs; however, GSH alone significantly inhibited (40%) their binding to DNA. High-performance liquid chromatographic analyses of incubation mixtures containing N-acetoxy-PhIP, GSH, and GST A1-1 failed to detect GSH conjugates of PhIP. Only oxidized glutathione and the parent amine, PhIP, were detected as reaction products, suggesting a redox mechanism. GST activity in human hepatic and colon mucosal cytosols was subsequently examined using the synthetic or O-acetyltransferase-generated N-acetoxy derivatives of PhIP, IQ, and MeIQx as substrates. GST activity toward N-acetoxy-PhIP was expressed in all 8 livers but not in 6 colons. No activity toward N-acetoxy-IQ or N-acetoxy-MeIQx was detected in human liver cytosols. This study indicates that a GST-dependent detoxification pathway may be an important determinant for the organ specificity of the heterocyclic amine carcinogens. Moreover, the high specificity of the reaction for GST A1-1, which is known to be inducible by cruciferous and yellow-green vegetable consumption, is consistent with the protective effects of such diets against human colorectal cancer.

Animals↗

Inhibition of glutathione S-transferases by antimalarial drugs possible implications for circumventing anticancer drug resistance.

A strategy to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer cells involves treatment with a combination of the antineoplastic agent and a chemomodulator that inhibits the activity of the resistance-causing protein. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of antimalarial drugs on human recombinant glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) activity in the context of searching for effective and clinically acceptable inhibitors of these enzymes. Human recombinant GSTs heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli were used for inhibition studies. GST A1-1 activity was inhibited by artemisinin with an IC(50) of 6 microM, whilst GST M1-1 was inhibited by quinidine and its diastereoisomer quinine with IC(50)s of 12 microM and 17 microM, respectively. GST M3-3 was inhibited by tetracycline only with an IC(50) of 47 microM. GST P1-1 was the most susceptible enzyme to inhibition by antimalarials with IC(50) values of 1, 2, 1, 4, and 13 microM for pyrimethamine, artemisinin, quinidine, quinine and tetracycline, respectively. The IC(50) values obtained for artemisinin, quinine, quinidine and tetracycline are below peak plasma concentrations obtained during therapy of malaria with these drugs. It seems likely, therefore, that GSTs may be inhibited in vivo at doses normally used in clinical practice. Using the substrate ethacrynic acid, a diuretic drug also used as a modulator to overcome drug resistance in tumour cells, GST P1-1 activity was inhibited by tetracycline, quinine, pyrimethamine and quinidine with IC(50) values of 18, 27, 45 and 70 microM, respectively. The ubiquitous expression of GSTs in different malignancies suggests that the addition of nontoxic reversing agents such as antimalarials could enhance the efficacy of a variety of alkylating agents.

Antimalarials↗

Glutathione S-transferase-catalyzed conjugation of 9,10-epoxystearic acid with glutathione.

The possible role of glutathione S-transferases (GST) in detoxification of fatty acid epoxides generated during lipid peroxidation has been evaluated. Present studies showed that cytosolic human glutathione S-transferases belonging to alpha, mu, and pi classes isolated from human liver and lung catalyzed the conjugation of glutathione and 9,10-epoxystearic acid. The product of enzymatic reaction, i.e., conjugate of GSH and epoxystearic acid, was isolated and characterized. The Michaelis constant (Km) values of the alpha, mu, and pi classes of GSTs for 9,10-epoxystearic acid were found to be 0.47, 0.32 and 0.80 mM, respectively, whereas the maximal velocity (V max) values for the alpha, mu, and pi classes of GSTs were found to be 142, 256, and 52 mol/min/mol, respectively. These results indicate that even though 9,10-epoxystearic acid is a substrate for all the three classes of GSTs, the mu class isozymes have maximum activity toward this substrate and may preferentially metabolize fatty acid epoxides more effectively as compared to the other classes of GSTs.

Glutathione↗

MIF protein are theta-class glutathione S-transferase homologs.

MIF proteins are mammalian polypeptides of approximately 13,000 molecular weight. This class includes human macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a rat liver protein that has glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity (TRANSMIF), and the mouse delayed early response gene 6 (DER6) protein. MIF proteins were previously linked to GSTs by demonstrating transferase activity and observing N-terminal sequence homology with a mu-class GST (Blocki, F.A., Schlievert, P.M., & Wackett, L.P., 1992, Nature 360, 269-270). In this study, MIF proteins are shown to be structurally related to the theta class of GSTs. This is established in three ways. First, unique primary sequence patterns are developed for each of the GST gene classes. The patterns identify the three MIF proteins as theta-like transferase homologs. Second, pattern analysis indicates that GST members of the theta class contain a serine residue in place of the N-terminal tyrosine that is implicated in glutathione deprotonation and activation in GSTs of known structure (Liu, S., et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267, 4296-4299). The MIF proteins contain a threonine at this position. Third, polyclonal antibodies raised against recombinant human MIF cross-react on Western blots with rat theta GST but not with alpha and mu GSTs. That MIF proteins have glutathione-binding ability may provide a common structural key toward understanding the varied functions of this widely distributed emerging gene family. Because theta is thought to be the most ancient evolutionary GST class, MIF proteins may have diverged early in evolution but retained a glutathione-binding domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Differential enantioselectivity of murine glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in the glutathione conjugation of trans-3,4-dihydroxy-1, 2-oxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene stereoisomers.

The kinetics of the glutathione (GSH) conjugation of (+)- and (-)-enantiomers of anti- as well as syn-3,4-dihydroxy-1,2-oxy-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene (B[c]PDE) catalyzed by murine GSH S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes has been investigated. Murine GSTs exhibited significant differences in their enantioselectivity toward B[c]PDE stereoisomers. For example, while pi class isoenzyme mGSTP1-1 was virtually inactive toward stereoisomers with 1S configuration [(-)-syn-and (+)-anti-B[c]PDE], these stereoisomers were good substrates for alpha class isoenzyme mGSTA1-2. When GST activity was measured as a function of varying B[c]PDE concentration (10-320 microM) at a fixed saturating concentration of GSH (2 mM), each isoenzyme examined obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with all four B[c]PDE stereoisomers. Alpha class isoenzyme mGSTA4-4 exhibited negligible activity toward all four stereoisomers of B[c]PDE. The catalytic efficiency of mGSTA1-2 was approximately 1.5- to 15-fold higher than other murine GSTs in the GSH conjugation of (-)-anti-B[c]PDE, which among the four B[c]PDE stereoisomers is the most potent pulmonary carcinogen in the newborn mouse model and a potent skin tumor-initiator. While alpha class isoenzymes mGSTA3-3 and mGSTA1-2 were equally efficient in the GSH conjugation of (+)-anti-B[c]PDE, their catalytic efficiencies toward this stereoisomer were significantly higher than those of mGSTP1-1 and mGSTM1-1. Likewise, mGSTA1-2 was relatively more efficient than other GSTs in the GSH conjugation of both enantiomers of syn-B[c]PDE. In summary, our results indicate that (a) murine GSTs significantly differ in their enantioselectivity in the GSH conjugation of B[c]PDE stereoisomers, which may partially account for the observed differences in the carcinogenic potency of B[c]PDE stereoisomers, and (b) mGSTA1-2 and mGSTA3-3 play a major role in the detoxification of B[c]PDE.

Animals↗

Characterisation of a zeta class glutathione transferase from Arabidopsis thaliana with a putative role in tyrosine catabolism.

A glutathione transferase (GST) similar to zeta GSTs in animals and fungi has been cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana using RT-PCR. The Arabidopsis zeta GST (AtGSTZ1) was expressed in Escherichia coli as his-tagged polypeptides, which associated together to form the 50-kDa AtGSTZ1-1 homodimer. Following purification, AtGSTZ1-1 was assayed for a range of activities and compared with other purified recombinant plant GSTs from the phi, tau, and theta classes. AtGSTZ1-1 differed from the other GSTs in showing no glutathione conjugating activity toward xenobiotics and no glutathione peroxidase activity toward organic hydroperoxides. Uniquely among the plant GSTs, AtGSTZ1-1 showed activity as a maleylacetone isomerase (MAI). This glutathione-dependent reaction is analogous to the cis-trans isomerization of maleylacetoacetate to fumarylacetoacetate, which occurs in the course of tyrosine catabolism to acetoacetate and fumarate. Thus, rather than functioning as a conventional GST, AtGSTZ1-1 appears to be involved in tyrosine degradation. In addition to the MAI activity, the AtGSTZ1-1 also catalyzed the glutathione-dependent dehalogenation of dichloroacetic acid to glyoxylic acid. This latter activity was used to demonstrate the presence of functional AtGSTZ1-1 inplanta.

Arabidopsis↗

Inactivation of glutathione S-transferases by nitric oxide-derived oxidants: exploring a role for tyrosine nitration.

Reactive intermediates derived from nitric oxide ((*)NO) are thought to play a contributing role in disease states associated with inflammation and infection. We show here that glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), principal enzymes responsible for detoxification of endogenous and exogenous electrophiles, are susceptible to inactivation by reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Treatment of isolated GSTs or rat liver homogenates with either peroxynitrite, the myeloperoxidase/hydrogen peroxide/nitrite system, or tetranitromethane, resulted in loss of GST activity with a concomitant increase in the formation of protein-associated 3-nitrotyrosine (NO(2)Tyr). This inactivation was only partially (<25%) reversible by dithiothreitol, and exposure of GSTs to hydrogen peroxide or S-nitrosoglutathione was only partially inhibitory (<25%) and did not result in protein nitration. Thus, irreversible modifications such as tyrosine nitration may have contributed to GST inactivation by RNS. Since all GSTs contain a critical, highly conserved, active-site tyrosine residue, we postulated that this Tyr residue might present a primary target for nitration by RNS, thus leading to enzyme inactivation. To directly investigate this possibility, we analyzed purified mouse liver GST-mu, following nitration by several RNS, by trypsin digestion, HPLC separation, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight analysis, to determine the degree of tyrosine nitration of individual Tyr residues. Indeed, nitration was found to occur preferentially on several tyrosine residues located in and around the GST active site. However, RNS concentrations that resulted in near complete GST inactivation only caused up to 25% nitration of even preferentially targeted tyrosine residues. Hence, nitration of active-site tyrosine residues may contribute to GST inactivation by RNS, but is unlikely to fully account for enzyme inactivation. Overall, our studies illustrate a potential mechanism by which RNS may promote (oxidative) injury by environmental pollutants in association with inflammation.

Animals↗

Fasciola hepatica: localisation of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in adult and juvenile liver fluke.

Four cDNA clones (GST-1, -7, -47, and -51) encoding isoenzymes of the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase (GST) have previously been identified and characterised from Fasciola hepatica. In the present study, antisera were generated to synthetic peptides of regions unique to each of the four GST proteins predicted by the cDNAs. The antisera were characterised, and two were found to distinguish GST-1 from GST-7, GST-47, and GST-51 as a group. These two antisera were used to localise different GSTs in adult and newly excysted juvenile F. hepatica. The antiserum to GST-1 was specific and localised GST-1 to the parenchyma of adult fluke but not to the lamellae of the intestinal caeca. The antiserum to a GST-51 peptide, which cross-reacted with GST-7 and GST-47 but not GST-1, localised the other GSTs not only to the parenchyma but also to the intestinal lamellae of adult fluke. This appears to be the first evidence of tissue-specific expression of GST isoenzymes in trematodes. In contrast to adult fluke, immunolocalisation of the GSTs in juvenile F. hepatica revealed the binding of both the GST-1 and GST-51 antisera to the parenchymal cytoplasm, to cytoplasmic extensions of the parenchyma cells in the subtegumental area, as well as the excretory ducts. No labeling was observed in the intestinal epithelium of the juvenile fluke. These results demonstrate that adult F. hepatica, in contrast to juvenile flukes, contain a GST, which is not GST-1, associated with the lamellae of the gut and suggest that GSTs in adult fluke may play a role in the absorptive function of the adult gut.

Aging↗

Interindividual differences in response to chemoprotection against aflatoxin-induced hepatocarcinogenesis: implications for human biotransformation enzyme polymorphisms.

It is now evident that most, if not all, of the remarkable species differences in susceptibility to AFB hepatocarcinogenesis is due in large part, if not exclusively, to differences in biotransformation. Certainly the relative rate of oxidative formation of the proximate carcinogen, AFB-8,9-exo-epoxide, is an important determinant of species and interindividual differences in susceptibility to AFB. However, mice produce relatively large amounts of exo-AFBO, yet are highly resistant to AFB-hepatocarcinogenesis because they express a particular form of GST with remarkably high catalytic activity toward the exo-epoxide of AFB. Rats, which are highly susceptible to AFB hepatocarcinogenesis,can be made resistant through dietary induction of an orthologous form of GST that is normally expressed in only very small amounts. Based on these findings in laboratory animal models, there is great interest in identifying chemicals and/or specific dietary constituents that could offer protection against AFB-hepatocarcinogenesis to humans. Current experimental strategies have focused on the antiparasitic drug, oltipraz, which induces protection in rats and has also shown some promise in humans. The mechanism of protection in rats appears to be via induction of an alpha class GST with high catalytic activity toward AFBO (rGSTA5-5). vet human alpha class GST proteins that are constitutively expressed in the liver (hGSTA1 and hGSTA2) have little, if any activity toward AFBO. Rather, it appears that mu class GSTs may be responsible for the very low, but potentially significant, detoxification activity toward AFBO. Oltipraz and certain dietary constituents may induce mu class GSTs in human liver, and this could afford some protection against the genotoxic effects of AFBO. However, it also appears that oltipraz, and perhaps certain dietary constituents, act as competitive inhibitors of human CYP1A2. As CYP1A2 appears to mediate most of the activation of AFB to exo-AFBO in human liver at low dietary concentrations of AFB encountered in the human diet, much of the putative protective effects of oltipraz could be mediated via inhibition of CYP1A2 rather than induction of GSTs. There is now evidence that human microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) could play a role in protecting human DNA from the genotoxic effects of AFB, although the importance of this detoxification pathway, relative to mu class GSTs, remains to be elucidated. Oltipraz is an effective inducer of mEH in rats (Lamb Franklin, 2000), and thus induction of this pathway in humans could also potentially contribute to the protective effects of this drug toward AFB genotoxicity. Because the dihydrodiol of AFB may contribute indirectly to the carcinogenic effects of AFB via protein adduction and subsequent hepatotoxicity, the recently characterized human aflatoxin aldehyde reductase (AFAR) may also offer some protection against AFB-induced carcinogenicity in humans. Current and future dietary and/or chemointervention strategies aimed at reducing the carcinogenic effects of AFB in humans should consider all of the possible mechanistic approaches for modifying AFB-induced genotoxicity.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Quantification of individual glutathione S-transferase isozymes in hepatic and pulmonary tissues of naphthalene-tolerant mice.

Acute exposure to naphthalene produces severe bronchiolar epithelial cell necrosis in mice, whereas subchronic exposure to naphthalene (200 mg/kg/7 days) fails to produce epithelial necrosis and renders the animals tolerant to subsequent challenge doses of naphthalene. Mechanisms responsible for the development of tolerance have not been delineated. The few studies exploring naphthalene tolerance focus on expression of microsomal enzymes and have yet to delve into expression of the hepatic detoxification enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18). Glutathione conjugation catalyzed by GSTs accounts for one of the two primary routes of naphthalene detoxification. In this study, we rigorously quantify levels of individual GST isozymes expressed within the livers and lungs of mice with acquired tolerance to naphthalene. Subchronic exposure to naphthalene increases the abundance of some hepatic GSTs to levels as much as 68% greater than controls. Naphthalene-tolerant mice displayed increases in mGSTM1 (51%), mGSTM2 (58%), and mGSTP1 (66%), whereas no significant difference in mGSTA3 was observed between exposed and control mice. Extracts of pulmonary tissues from naphthalene-tolerant mice showed minor increases in levels of mGSTP1 (7%) and Peak 8 isozyme (27%) and decreases in levels of mGSTM1 (31%), mGSTM2 (17%), and mGSTA3 (8%). The total enzymatic activity for the conjugation of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was 22% lower in lung extracts from naphthalene-tolerant animals than in controls. These results indicate that induction of hepatic GSTs is substantial and may be an important factor in the development of tolerance to naphthalene.

Animals↗